WEAC President Ron Martin joined the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Tuesday in a media call in response to visits from U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to the state. In discussing education policies, several speakers blasted Walker’s latest TV ad.

“I’m an eighth grade social studies teacher who has a long career dedicated to students,” Martin said. “It’s unbelievable that Betsy DeVos, who has dedicated her life to dismantling public schools, would show up in Wisconsin for a photo op.

“In Wisconsin, we believe all children have a right to a top-notch public education. Betsy DeVos doesn’t share that vision with us.

“Secretary DeVos, President Trump, Scott Walker – they’re all politicians who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Photo stunts and millions of dollars of slick ads won’t change that fact.”

Kim Kohlhaas, president of the American Federation of Teachers – Wisconsin, echoed those sentiments:

“Betsy DeVos is the worst education secretary of our lifetime,” Kohlhaas said. “Unfortunately, Scott Walker is also the worst education governor of our lifetime. This is more than a funding issue, this is a values issues.

“You cannot claim to be the ‘education governor’ when 40 other states are investing in public education at a stronger pace than Wisconsin,” Kohlhaas said. “You cannot claim to be ‘education governor’ when classroom sizes have gone up, programs have been cut and positions cannot be filled.”

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairwoman Martha Laning said: “It isn’t surprising that Secretary DeVos is here in Wisconsin today, because she and Scott Walker have the exact same approach to education funding. They both support policies that have diverted taxpayer dollars to private, unaccountable schools while starving our public schools.”

“Today Scott Walker introduced a 60 second ad focusing on the Three Lakes School District, which due to lack of state funding nearly closed last year,” Laning said. “Their community passed a $15 million school referendum to keep the school open. So it is tough to see Scott Walker taking credit for a program that his state funding decisions nearly destroyed.

“Wisconsin can’t afford any more of Walker’s disastrous policies, and that’s why voters are ready for a new governor who will have a positive vision to expand healthcare and educational opportunity. Democrats are ready to lead Wisconsin to a better future for all.”

From One Wisconsin Now:

MADISON, Wis. – The worst governor for public education in state history, Scott Walker, is hosting the worst Secretary of the Department of Education in American history, Betsy DeVos, today as she visits a technical college and a public middle school in Wisconsin. “These two deserve each other,” commented One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross.